Foot-gage.



T. J. MADDEN.

FOOT GAGE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I5. Isle.

Patented Apr. 3, 1917.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented dpr.. 3, 191W..

Application led September 15, 1916. Serial No. 120,868.

To all 'wtom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. MADDEN, a citizen of the United States, residin at Cairo, in the county of Alexander and tate a of llllinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Foot-Gages, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to foot and shoe gages, the object of the inventionbeing to lo provide a simple, cheap and collapsible or folding gage of the class referred to which may be compactly mailed together with a catalogue containing descriptive matter,

prices and illustration relative to foot wear 1n general, the gage being of such a simple character that it may be readily understood and utilized byv anyone with very simple instructions, which may, if desired, be printed directly upon the article itself. As

99 a whole the .gage is particularly designed for mail order business.

With the above and other objects in View, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement, herein fully described, illustrated and claimed.

ln the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the gage complete and ready for use.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same spread 99 out in a fiat condition.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the gage folded for mailing purposes.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section through the base plate taken in line with the width gage.

The gage contemplated in this invention may be constructed of any suitable sheet material such as paper, cardboard or light and easily bendable metal.

The base plate 1 of the gage is originally of the shape illustrated in Fig. 2 but is substantially bent along the longitudinal folding line 2 to provlde an upstanding side stop or flange 8. At one end the plate is t5 bent upwardly along the folding line 4 to form a front or toe stop 5. lncisions 6 are made in the plate 1 and the end portions of the toe stop 5 are then bent outwardly on the line 7 to form triangular-shaped braces 8 which serve to hold the toe stop 5 in a substantially vertical position when the base plate 1 is laid upon the floor or any other horizontal support.

9 designates a length gage which is shown in the form of a Strip of e ual width throughout the greater portion o its length,

the same being graduated as indicated at l10 to lndicate the length of the foot or shoe 1n connection with which the gage is used. llhe strip 9 passes through slots 11 and 12 1n the base plate 1 and also through another slot 13 formed in line with the fold- 111g line 4 above referred to. At one end the length gage strip 9 is bent on a transverse line 14 to provide an upstanding heel stop 15 provided at opposite sides with foldable triangular-shaped braces 16 which, when disposed at a right angle to the heel stop 15 serve to sustain the latter in4 a vertical position.

The base plate 1 is also formed with slots 17 and 18 to receive a width gage 19 also in the form of a strip of unlform width throughout the major portion of its length, said gage strip 19 being graduated as indicated at 20 to show different'y widths of the foot or shoe. At one end the width gage 19 is bent along the line 21 to provide an upstanding side stop 22 and the latter is folded alon the line 23 to provide triangular-shape braces 24 which when folded substantially at right angles to the stop 22, serve to sustain the latter in a substantially vertical position.

ln using the gage to determine the size of a shoe required for a certain foot, the heel is placed against the heel stop 15. The ball of the foot is then elevated sufficiently to enable the base plate 1 to be slid longitudinally of the length gage 9 and the graduation thereon which registers with the toe stop 5, when the latter is brought into contact with the great toe, indicates the length of shoe required. One side of the foot is placed against the side stop 3, and the width gage 19 is then slid longitudinally through the slots 17 and 18 in the same manner as the length gage 9 until the other side stop 22 lies snugly against the opposite side of the foot. Then the graduation 20 of the width gage which registers with the slot 18 of the base plate indicates the proper width of shoe to suit the foot.

When the device is not in use, it may be folded from the set up position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 3 and when the parts are in the last named position, the device may be easily mailed in an envelop or inserted between the pages or under the cover of a catalogue, enumerating, describing and illustrating foot wear of all kinds. Thus the device is not only cheap in its .construction so that it may be given away with each catalogue, but it is compact when folded, accurate and reliable in use,

and the manipulation thereof may be readilyv understood by almost anyone.

I claim: 4 y

l. In a `foot gage, the combination of a base plate having a longitudinal and a transverse series of slots therein, a length gage in the form of a strip slidable through oneseries of slots, and a width gage slidable through the other series of slots in the base plate, an end stop having a fixed relation to said plate, another end stop having a fixed relation to the length gauge and shiftable therewith toward and away from the fixed end gage, a side stop having a fixed relation to the base plate, and another side stop having a fixed relation to the width gage, both of said gages being graduated for, the pur.

- base plate havinr relation to the length gage and shiftable therewith toward and away from the fixed end gage, a side stop having a xed relation to the base plate, and another side stop having a fixed relation to the width gage, both of said gages being graduated for the purpose specified, and all of said stops being foldable to facilitate assemblage and obtain compactness.

3. In a foot gage, the colnbination of a a longitudinal and transverse series of slots therein, a length gage in the form of a strip slidable through one series of slots, and a width gage slidable through another series of slots in the base plate, an end stop having a fixed ,relation to said plate, another end stop having a fixed relation to the length gage and shiftable therewithV toward and away from the fixed end gage, a side stop having a xed relation to the base plate, another side stop having a fixed relation to the width gage, both of said gages being graduated for tne purpose specified, all of said stops being oldable, and foldable braces adapted to sustain cer tain of said stops in perpendicular relation to the base plate.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

THOMAS J. MADDEN. 

